Samuel Goldwyn Films | Release Date: February 25, 2011
7.2
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TheQuietGamerMay 30, 2015
The filmmaking here is amateur. Scene changes aren't always seamless thanks to the occasional fade to black that lasts for a second or two. It's things like that which pull you out of the experience. Despite a mostly competent cast and solidThe filmmaking here is amateur. Scene changes aren't always seamless thanks to the occasional fade to black that lasts for a second or two. It's things like that which pull you out of the experience. Despite a mostly competent cast and solid dialog the movie falls short thanks to poor direction and predictable plot that ends up not feeling as fleshed out as it should have been.

It's definitely an indie movie. The fancy tricks big budget movies use to make things look more attractive just aren't present here. That's not really an issue. The issue is that the director clearly doesn't have much experience. As a result quite a few scenes just feel contrived. This is especially true of "Mac" (Michael Joiner). When he accepts God's grace the change in his life is instantaneous and everything works out just as quickly. We never get to see him struggle to rebuild the bridges he had burned. It takes a lot of the emotional impact out of the film.

That's not to say the film doesn't have any at all though. Quite the opposite really. The message of faith and God's grace will still resonate with Christian audiences. The movie is at it's best when it touches on the tricky topic of racism. It has some mature things to say on the topic, even if it doesn't quite hit all the right notes. It ends up being powerful and uplifting to watch a man overcome his problems and find peace with God. It makes the film worth watching, but only for the right audience.

No, it doesn't quite get everything perfect. The amateur feeling nature of it all does end up bringing it down. However the morals it supplies are sure to make it enjoyable for Christian audiences. Although even the most forgiving Christian will recognize that there are plenty of better alternatives out there. It won't do anything for the nonbelievers. If you are a Christian looking for a movie that celebrates and preaches the grace of God then this is for you. Just know that you'll see it's not the best put together film out there. For those who do not believe in God the obvious issues with the filmmaking will kill it for you even more than it's message of faith.
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